Three Chinese nationals who were abducted by pirates during an attack on the Ghanaian fishing vessel MV Menhin-1 have been successfully rescued in Nigeria, the Ghana Police Service has confirmed.
Addressing journalists at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, revealed that the incident occurred on March 27, 2025, at approximately 7:30 PM off Yenyano Waters near Tema.
He disclosed that, heavily armed pirates wielding AK-47 rifles stormed the vessel using wooden canoes powered by outboard motors. During the assault, the attackers disabled the ship’s communication equipment and took three Chinese crew members hostage.
The matter was reported the next morning, March 28, to the Marine Police Command in Tema by the fishing company. A coordinated investigation involving the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, National Investigation Bureau, Ghana Navy, and a fisheries observer was immediately launched.
According to police findings, the victims were blindfolded and transported in speedboats for 24 hours to a marshy area later identified as Nigeria’s Delta region. They were subsequently moved by motorcycles and on foot to a makeshift camp, where they were held at gunpoint for nearly a month.
The hostages were unexpectedly abandoned by their captors on April 25 and managed to reach a nearby village, where local residents assisted them in contacting the Chinese Embassy in Lagos. The embassy confirmed the rescue on April 26 and handed the victims over to Ghanaian authorities at the Kotoka International Airport on April 27. A formal debriefing followed on April 28 at the Police Headquarters in Accra.
Although the rescued crew members showed no visible physical injuries, police noted they appeared deeply traumatised and have since requested medical attention. The Inspector General of Police met with the victims to express sympathy and offer support.
So far, eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction. Those in custody include Sueva Victor, Kojo Akweli, Eugene Chibuke, Mwonam, a Chinese cook identified as Zhao Lang Hao, and second engineer Zhao Hua. They have all been arraigned before the Tema District Court, with investigations still ongoing.
The police have commended all participating agencies for their swift response and coordinated efforts that led to the safe recovery of the abducted crew members.
